Some advice on “how to have an eco – friendly Christmas!

1. Don’t forget to recycle old Christmas cards or gift wrap by picking up a free card recycling bag from Australia Post.

2. Be inventive with wrapping ideas such as using comic book pages, get the kids to colour in the pages in their recycled paper colouring in books and use that, or use un- coloured colouring in pages to wrap presents for kids and let them colour in the wrapping later in the day to stay amused.

3. Perhaps car pooling with neighbors or family members to do Christmas shopping or make a conscious effort to use public transport on that day,

4. For Christmas decorations, use solar powered Christmas lights, and why not decorate a favorite indoor plant as your Chrissy tree instead of chopping one down for a week or two’s use.

5. Support local produce providers for Christmas food, get creative with Christmas left over’s and use them in salads, bakes or casseroles, buy food with minimal packaging, donate unwanted decorations to charity.

6. Get involved in creating your own Christmas masterpieces from your craft bits and pieces at home (i.e. painted pine cones, twigs and candles sprinkled with glitter make great centre pieces for tables.

7. Battery re-chargers are a simple yet sustainable gift, or give seedlings as gifts (possibly vege or fruit bearing), gifts that promote physical activity for children are great (i.e. push bikes, binoculars, magnifiers – all help kids get outdoors and involved with nature)

8. Why not include a family bush walk on Christmas day or Boxing day to enjoy the outdoors for free and perhaps walk off those extra Chrissy calories.

9. And try and holiday locally!